Portable loader



Jan.

H. B. WALKER PORTABLE LOADER Filed I June 22, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR W a. \Mlm,

H. B. WALKER PORTABLE LOADER Jan. 10, 1933.

Filed June 22. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jan. 10, 1933. H a WALKER 1,893,917

PORTABLE LOADER Filed June 22, 1931 3 SheetS -Sheet 5 INVENTOR Patented 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY B. WALKER, OF MARION, OEIO,.ABSIGI IOR TO THE FAIRIIELD ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF MARION, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO PORTABLE LOADEB Application fled June 22, 1931.

This invention relates to a portable loader such as is employed in coal yards and elsewhere for handling coal, stone and other materials. Loaders of this type consist of a boom having a conveyor extending there-' along, a motor for driving the conveyor, and a supporting framework which holds the boom in an inclined position, usually with one end on the ground. The material to be handled is supplied to the lower end, carried along the boom by the conveyor, and discharged at the upper end to a truck,,bin

or other receptacle. Mobility and conven-' tor for operating the conveyor and or getting the tractive and elevating movements. Since the conveyoris the most frequently used, I mount the motor on the boom, and in combination with this arrangement I employ a pivoted'carriage or frame which supports the loader, and make provision for driving the traction wheels of the carriage froni the motor. This involves the provision of a drive which is effective regardless of pivotal movement of the boom on the supporting frame, and I prefer to employ as a part of the driving connection a shaft which is substantially coaxial with the pivot. I also make provision for driving cable drums from which extend cables effective for raising or lowering the boom. The cable drums are preferably mounted on the boom and cooperate with a mast extending upwardly from the pivoted frame. I also make provision for mounting the motor and the gearing to one side of the mast and adjacent the pivot point. This places the mechanism relatively close to the ground and at the lower end of the boom. It materially lessens certain of the forces involved, simplifies the Serial No. 545,871.

construction, and permits of lighter wei ht parts belng used. It is also very desira le from a manufacturing standpoint in that the lower part of the apparatus will be the same nieigardless of the length of the boom, and di erent length loaders may be made simply by varying the length of the upper portion of the boom. By reason of the great weight of the motor and gears being placed near the lower end, the danger of the upper end over-balancing the lower end, or of the apparatus tlpping over, is reduced to a minimum.

Provision is further made in the drive for traction wheels, so as to permit of reversing the dlrection of travel, or for driving one wheel at a time so as to turn in a circle.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention,

F gure 1 is a side elevation of the loader; Figure 2 is a view of a portion of the gearmg taken on the line IIII of Figure 1, but with the structural parts of the boom largely removed for clearness of illustration; and

Flgure 3 is a like view taken on the line III-III of Figure 1, showing the mechanism for driving the traction wheels but with portions of the frame removed for clarity of illustration.

Figure 1 illustrates the eneral construction of the loader. It comprlses a boom 2 havmg a foot shaft 3 and a head shaft 4 carrying sprockets over which run chains 5 carrying drag plates 6. The upper flight of the chains runs in a trough made up of side plates 7 and a bottom plate 8. The lower flight is carried by the an les 9, constituting a portion of the framewor of the upper portion of the boom,

its lowermost position. A mast 19 extends upwardly from the frame 16. The mast consists of a pair of angles 20 at each side of the boom, these angles being faced together by plates 21 and secured at the bottom to castings 22 rocking on a shaft 22a. The boom 2 carries wheels 23 on stub shafts 24, which wheels lie between and bear against the legs of the angles 20, so as to guide the boom and the mast relative to one another. The angles are connected at the top by cross angles 25.

The inclination of the boom is determined by cables 26. The cables are dead-ended-on the mast at 27 and extend downwardly and around sheaves 28 on the sides of the upper ortion of the boom. The cables then pass back to the top of the mast and over sheaves 29 and thence to cable reels 30. There is a cable reel on each side of the boom, to each of which a cable-is dead-ended. Both reels are mounted on a shaft 31, which shaft carries a worm wheel 32 meshing with a worm 33 on a shaft 34. The worm and wheel constitute an irreversible drive. That is to say, the pitch of the worm is such that while the worm can rotate the worm wheel, the worm wheel can never rotate the worm. Therefore, if the shaft 34 is disen aged from the power source at any desired adjusted position of the boom, such position will be maintained until the shaft 34 is again rotated in one direction or the other.

The power for the loader is supplied from an electric motor 35 secured to the underside of the lower portion of the boom. In

this particular embodiment of the invention it will be noted that the motor and the driving gears lie within the space triangle defined by the boom 2, the frame 16 and the mast 19, although it may be desirable in some instances to place part or all of the mechanism on the lower side of the pivot point 17. In either event, the weight of the motor and the cars is concentrated near the lower end of the apparatus, thus simplifying the construction, minimizing any danger of overturning, and making the parts very accessible for lubrication or repair.

The motor 35 is connected by a drive chain 36 to a sprocket 37 on a shaft 38. The shaft 38 carries a pinion 39 meshing with a gear 40 on a shaft 41. The gear 40, in turn, meshes with a gear 42 which is freely rotatable on a shaft 43. The sprockets 11 which drive the drag conveyor are keyed to this shaft. The gear 42 is connected to one element of a friction clutch 44 controlled by a hand lever 45, which lever is effective for operatively conneci ing or disconnecting the gear 42 and the shaft 43, so as to drive the conveyor when desired.

The shaft 41 carries a similar clutch 46 controlled by a hand lever 47 effective for operatively connecting or disconnecting a sprocket 48 and the shaft 41. The sprocket 48 is connected by a chain 49 to a sprocket 50 on a shaft 51, about which the frame 16 pivots. The shaft 51 carries a sprocket 52 connected by a chain 53 to a sprock t 54 on a shaft 55. The shaft 55 carries gear: 56 and 57 which are freely rotatable on the in ft but are provided with jaw clutch elm nts 58 cooperative with a jaw clutch ell: 'Ilt 59 splined on the shaft 55. The clut' element 59 is controlled by a bell crank arm 60 connected through a link 61 to the lower end of a hand lever 62 having a locking device 63 cooperating with a quadrant 64 whereby the lever 62 may be locked in a forward. in. a reverse, or a neutral position. When the lever is in the neutral position, the clutch element 59 does not engage either of the clutch elements 58. However. movement of the lever to either of the other positions effects engagement with the clutch elements on one or the other of the gears 56 and 57. The gear 56 meshes with a gear 65 on a. shaft 66, which shaft has splincd to its outer ends jaw clutch members 67, normally urged by springs 68 into engagement with corresponding jaw clutch faces on pinions 69 mounted on the shaft 66.

The pinions 69 mesh with internal gears 70 on the traction wheels 14. The gear 57 meshes with an idle gear 71, which, in turn, meshes with a gear 72 on the shaft 66. Thus, depending on which way the handle 62 is moved from neutral position, the shaft 66 will be driven from one direction or the other and the traction wheels 14 will be correspondingly actuated.

If it is desired to turn a corner one or the other of the jaw clutch members 67 will be disengaged until the apparatus has been turned through the desired angle. This dis engagement is effected by means of a steering wheel 73 on a post 74. The post carries a lever 75 connected through a link 76 to a cross bar 77. The ends of the cross bar project through eyes 78 in the ends of levers 79 pivotally mounted on the frame 16 at 80. Nuts 81 are threaded on the outer ends of the cross bar 77. By reason of this construction endwise movement of the cross bar 77 will be effective for swinging one of the levers 79 inwardly toward the center line of the frame 16; but the other lever 7 9 will be onaffected, the cross bar 77 simply -=lidmg through the eye 78. The levers 79 are yoked over the clutch members 67 so that turning of the steering wheel 73 in one direction or the other will effect disengagement of one or the other of the jaw clutches and leave one of the traction wheels undriven until the steering wheel is released, whereupon the spring 68 will force the jaw clutch back into engagement and return the steering wheel to its normal position.

The mechanism for actuating the shaft 34 and thus raising or lowering the boom is best illustrated in Figure 2. The shaft 34 carries a mitre gear 82 meshing with oppositely faced mitre gears 83 and 84 loosely mounted on the shaft 41. The mitre gears 83 and 84:

are provided on their adjacent faces with jaw clutch gears 85 cooperating with a clutch element 86. This clutch element is normally positioned midwa between the mitre gears 83 and 84 so as to e out of engagement with either of them, but it may be slid in either direction by a cross bar 87 actuated by a hand lever 88 on the side of the machine. The clutch element 86 is splined to the shaft 41 and when engaged with one or the other of the mitre gears 83 or 84 is effective for driving the shaft 34 in one direction or the other, and thus actuating the cable reels 30 to wind or unwind the cables 26 and raising or lowering the boom.

With my apparatus the several operations of the loader may be rapidly carried out. \Vhile, generally speaking, it is desirable that the boom be in a relatively low position while the loader is being moved from place to place, it is possible to raise or lower the boom during such movement and, if desired, the

tractive movement may begin while the boom is in process of lowering. The apparatus-1s all under the control of one man who may stand on an operating platform 90 and actuate the several controls. All of themcchanism is close to the ground, giving a desirable positioning of the heavier masses in the machine and facilitating inspection, lubrication and repair.

I have illustrated and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however, that it is not thus limited but may be otherwise embodied or practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A portable loader comprising a boom, a conveyor on the boom, a motor mounted on the boom, driving connections between the motor and the conveyor, a frame pivotally connected to the boom, traction wheels mounted on the frame, driving means for the wheels actuated from the motor, the driving means including a power transmission shaft substantially coaxial with the pivotal connection of the frame and the boom, a mast extending upwardly from the frame, a cable reel on the boom, a cable extending to the upper portion of the mast and effective for elevating the boom when the cable is wound on the reel, and reel control means effective for holding the reel against cable unwinding movement, the reel control means including a driving connection with the motor whereby the reel may be rotated.

2. A portable loader comprising a boom, a conveyor on the boom, a motor mounted on the boom, driving connections between the motor and the conveyor, a frame pivotally connected to the boom, traction wheelsmounted on the frame, driving means for the wheels actuated from the motor, the driving means including a power transmission shaft substantially. coaxial with the pivotal connectionof the frame and -the boom, a mast extending upwardly from the frame, a cable reel on the boom ad'acent the pivot point, a cable extending to t e upper portion of the mast and effective for elevating the boom when the cable is wound on the reel, and reel control means effective for holding the reel against cable unwinding movement, the reel control means including a driving connection with the motor whereby the reel may be rotated.

3. A portable loader comprising a boom, a conve or on the boom, a frame pivotally connecte to the boom, a motor mounted on the boom adjacent the pivot point, driving connections between the motor and the conveyor, fraction wheels mounted on the frame, driving means for the wheels actuated from the motor, the driving means including a power transmission shaft substantiall coaxial with the pivotal connection of the rame and the boom, a mast extending upwardly from the frame, a cable reel on the boom, a cable extending to the upper portion of the mast and effective for elevating the boom when the'cable is wound on the reel, and reel control means effective for holding the reel against cable unwinding movement, the reel control means including a driving connection with the motor whereby the reel may be rotated.

4. A portable loader comprising a boom, a conveyor on the boom, a motor mounted on the boom, a frame pivotally connected to the boom, traction wheels mounted on the frame, a mast extending upwardly from the frame, a cable reel, a cable extending to the upper portion of the mast and effective for elevating the boom when the cable is wound on the reel, and driving connections between the motorand the conveyor, the traction Wheels and the cable reel, the connection with the traction wheels including power transmission members so positioned relative to the pivot point that they are effective regardless of the pivotal movement between the frame and the boom.

5. A portable loader comprising a boom, a conveyor on the boom, a motor mounted on the boom, a frame pivotally connected with the boom, a pair of traction wheels mounted on the frame, and driving connections between the motor, the conveyor and the traction wheels including power transmission members so positioned relative to the pivot point that they are. effective regardless of pivotal movement between the frame and the boom, and'also including means .on the frame for disconnecting either traction wheel at will 6. A portable loader comprising boom, a conveyor on the boom, a motor mounted on the boom, a frame pivotally connected with the boom, 1 pair of traction wheels mounted on the frame, and driving connections between the motor, the conveyor and the traction whcels,,the connection to the traction wheels including power transmission members so positioned relative to the pivot point that they are effective regardless of pivotal movement between the frame and the boom, and also includin reversing means whereby the traction whee s may be driven in either direction.

7. A portable loader comprising a boom, a conve or on the boom, a driving motor mounte on the boom, a frame pivotally connected to the boom, traction wheels on the frame, a mast extending upwardly from the frame, a cable reel on the frame and a cable extending therefrom to the u per end of the mast and effective for controlling the angular osition of the boom, a shaft, reducing gearmg connecting the motor to the shaft, and driving connections from the shaft to the conveyor, the traction wheels and the cable reel, the driving connection to the traction wheels including reversing means, said driving connection being so arranged as to transmit ower to the traction wheels regardless of pivotal movement between the frame and the boom, the drive to the traction wheels being arranged so that the wheels can be operatively connected or disconnected with the motor at will, the driving connection for the conveyor being arranged for connection or disconnection with the motor at will, and a drivin connection between said shaft and the ea le reel connectable or disconnectable at will, the cable reel being so arranged as to stay fixed in an position to which it is driven.

8. A portab e loader comprising a boom, a conveyor on the boom, a frame pivotally connected to the boom adjacent the lower end thereof, a mast extending upwardly from the frame, a cable extending over the mast and connected to a cable reel on the boom, the

and the hoist drum, a reversible drive b1 tween the motor and said wheels including a shaft coaxial with the pivotal connection tween the frame and boom, and means for i the iy freeing said wheel fom said bi -21.15!"- tioned drive.

10. A portable material handling paratus comprising a boom, a wheeled :KULUON- ing frame pivoted thereto adjacent on: end, a mast pivoted to the frame and having sliding pivotal connection with the boom, a conveyor on the boom, a hoisting cable for the boom extending around a sheave on the mast and operable by a drum on the boom, and a drive for the wheels of said frame. a motor mounted on said boom, a drive for said boom including a clutch, a drive for said hoisting drum including a reversin ear, said drive been irreversible by the weig t of said boo a clutch for said last-mentioned drive, an a driving connection between said motor and the drive for said wheels including a shaft coaxial with the pivotal connection between the frame and the boom, said last-mentioned drive being reversible, means for disconnecting each of the wheels on said frame from said wheel drive, a platform on said frame, and control mechanisms for operating each of said drives and clutches accessible from said platform.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' HENRY B. WALKER.

cable being effective for determining the an- 7 gularposition of the boom, and a power unit mounted on the boom adjacent the pivot point and comprising a motor and reducing gearing with connections to the conveyor and the ca 1e reel, traction wheels on the frame, and a connection from the traction wheels to the power unit effective regardless of pivotal movement between the boom and the frame.

9. A portable loader comprising a boom, a wheeled frame pivoted thereto, a mast pivoted to the frame and the boom, the boom being slidable on the mast, a conveyor on the boom, a hoist drum .on the m for raising the boom on the mast, a drive'for the wheels on said frame, a motor on said boom, a drive connection between the motor and the conveyor, a reversible drive between the motor 

